Today the weather was perfect, bright and sunny and not as hot and humid. Meeting at the Railway station in Whitby was perhaps not the best for Bob from Radio 4 to do some recording, but we managed. Steve, Carol, Margaret and John came to join us for the walk and Clare re-appeared unexpectedly. She had enjoyed it so much yesterday she came for another dose!.

We made it to St Hilda’s RC after their Mass. The organist came to give us some information about the church and the congregation. Then through Pannett Park and off to St Hilda’s Priory at Sneaton Castle. The sisters were waiting for us and we had juice and biscuits and a time in their chapel before a photoshoot.

photoshoot at St Hilda’s Priory

Sr Carol told us about her call to the veil. Then to the sea front with great views of the Abbey in front of us. St Hilda’s Anglican Church was opened for us to admire the huge Bishop’s Chair and pray for Bishop Alison as she would be being ordained in York Minster this very day.

Remembrance Picture in St Hilda’s Anglican

Nearly there

We also saw the Picture of Christ on the cross amid the killing fields of the First World War and prayed for the victims of this week in Tunisia. Then down the West Cliff and across the Esk for the final ascent to the Abbey via Caedmon’s Trod.

Chancel of St Mary’s

The bells of St Mary began to peal just as we arrived at the church and we could hear them as we walked through to the Abbey grounds (courtesy of English Heritage). A final prayer before going into St Mary’s for a communion service where we could light candles in thanksgiving for our pilgrimage and sing the famous hymn ‘Who would true valour see’.

Another warm day. We started from Sleights railway station today with an interview with Sîan from Radio Tees. This should be broadcast this coming Sunday and I will put in the link when I have it live. Nine pilgrims today with two new ones for the day this time from Scarborough.

Sleights from the path

There were lovely views of Sleights as we ascended but unfortunately the steam train running to Whitby was hidden from our sight by trees. However we could see the sight of the Abbey, St Mary’s, St Hilda’s Anglican and St Hilda’s Priory as we journeyed on. The church today was St Hilda’s in Sneaton. Here we were welcomed by members of the church including the organist who played for us to sing ‘Praise my soul the King of Heaven’. So rousing was the singing, we sang it again. Appropriate for Caedmon, whose serene figure shone over us from the stained glass window.

Refreshments at SneatonVeronica with us

Then we crossed the road to some delicious refreshments from three ladies of the church and enjoyed a rest in the village hall.

The vicar, Veronica joined us for the next stage of our journey as we went along the ‘Monk’s Trod’ heading for Whitby. The viaduct over the River Esk, which now carries the Scarborough-Whitby cycle route, gave us even better views of our final destination tomorrow.

Our destination

A final prayer in a quiet back street before we joined the throng of holiday-makers at the river side in Whitby and caught a glance of the book ‘Walking St Hilda’s Way’ on sale in the Tourist Information Centre.
Nancy

We met up by St Hedda’s – seven pilgrims and dog to start the day. Paul and John from York joined us. There was a steep pull up the hill to the Egton Mortuary Chapel which is our first stop today.

Pilgrims at the mortuary chapel

We were met by churchwarden Peter, who had opened up the chapel for us and gave us some history of the chapel and a look at some of the old maps and photos and papers.

old map of areachildren’s work at Egton church
After our song and prayer at the chapel we went on to St Hilda’s Egton (dodging a low loader which had come for the vicar’s broken down car!). This church has a good ministry to the next door school and children’s work was displayed for us to enjoy.

Here we mused on Hilda the teacher and thanked God for those who had taught us. After welcome refreshments at the vicarage we were joined by Christine the vicar and got as far as Grosmont for lunch.

The temperature rose in the afternoon as we walked on to St Oswald’s Pastoral Centre at Sleights and new made scones, tea, coffee and cool water were most welcome.

pilgrims being welcomed at St Oswald’s

A final fillip for the day was a phone call from Radio 4. They want to come and record an interview with us on Friday for a programme in the autumn! St Hilda is to make National Radio.
Nancy

The weather forecast was right. It was hot today. We had eleven pilgrims set off today plus one dog. The visibility was very good and so as we walked along to Lealholme there was plenty to see.

Lunch in Lealholme

Lunch in Lealholme found us sitting thankfully under spreading coper beech trees with the church behind us. Then after lunch we found an unusual farm on route with the world champion Birmingham Rotating pigeons along with two families of kittens and unusual breeds of fowls.

kittens

woodland trod

Beggars Bridge found us sitting thankfully and drinking water in preparation for a walk along the ancient trods through the woodland.

Stepping stones

Stepping stones over the Esk got us very near to St Hedda’s where we were able to view the Nicholas Postgate window and hear some of the fascinating history of the church in Egton Bridge from Fr Roger. Our hymn for today ”Father hear the prayer we offer, not for ease that prayer shall be’ seemed apt. Nancy

The second day was promising to be warm! The eight expected pilgrims met up again at the Scaling Dam Centre. The paths were dry and found to be where the book said they would be. We ascended to the top of Beacon Hill (with wonderful views north, south, east andPilgrims on the second day west) and paused for a photo-opportunity. Downhill to Danby, making good time so that we arrived at Danby Church in time for a very welcome cup of tea from the welcoming people at Danby. Welcome to Danby Church
Once there we met up with four more pilgrims led by Paul Rathbone, who had followed down the hill from the Beacon and eventually caught up with us. They remained with us a short while longer and eventually we made it back across the River Esk only to be caughtConversation with statue by a talking statue who lectured on the fish to be found in the river. The Moors Centre at Danby were selling welcome refreshments and we finished our second stage at the centre with prayer.
Nancy

The Pilgrimage began at 11am at St Hilda’s Hinderwell.Hinderwell ChurchSt Hilda’s WellNew Archdeacon Samantha was there as well as the Archdeacon SamBishop PaulBishop of Whitby, Paul and Rural Dean, Barry. Bishop Paul reminded us of the great legacy left to us by St Hilda and urged us to think of the legacy we would leave for future generations ….. as well as a lot of other important stuff. The service was meant to be outside by the side of Hilda’s well, but rain stopped play and we had to be inside with some well water for the renewal of our Baptism Vows. However the sun came out in time for the blessing of the new ‘St Hilda’s Way’ and the rousing strains of ‘Guide me O Thou great Redeemer.’ We could also have our picnic by the well before having a photo shoot of all 29 people whoThe Pilgrims at the start of the walkhad come to start this new footpath off to a great start. The setting off was in sunshine. The grass and trees verdant and everyone in good spirits. Some found the going more difficult than others, which is always the case in the pilgrimage through life, but the group of pilgrims good humouredly waited, ate, chatted and generally seemed to have a good time.Scaling Dam
We arrived at Scaling dam in quite a breeze but managed to pray the pilgrimage prayer at the end of the day before departing to eat and rest. As the next day is a Monday our numbers tomorrow is expected to be rather less than today.
Nancy

This week we have received hot off the press, the copies of ‘Walking The book coverSt Hilda’s Way’. The book will be available from TIC in Whitby, Scarborough and Filey, from churches in the Whitby area, from the NY Moors Centre at Danby and the Gateway Centre at Staithes. Hopefully there will be some Media interest and we are getting all geared up for the Launch on 28th June – 3rd July. We have been very pleased that those who have seen it appear to like it and it only costs £5 with profits going to Christian Aid and the Whitby Churches Mission Fund.
Soon the book will be available online at Amazon, so keep looking.
Nancy

Announcing a new long distance footpath: St Hilda’s Way

St Hilda’s Way is a new 43 miles long-distance trail in North Yorkshire, starting from Hinderwell and finishing at Whitby Abbey. Nancy and John have lent their assistance in devising the route and writing the guidebook.

St Hilda’s Way is being launched on Sunday 28 June 2015 with a special service at St Hilda’s Well at Hinderwell Church. There is then a led pilgrimage and the full walk will be completed over the following five days.

Click here, or on the St Hilda tab above, for lots more information about the walk.